Khalfallah finds a home in Victory ‘family’

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FAHID Ben Khalfallah's face lights up when he talks about his time in Melbourne so far.

Before the question is finished the Melbourne Victory attacking utility interjects with "perfect" in his French-tinted accent.

"I was very excited when I came, but I am very, very happy," he says.

"I was surprised by the soccer, the fans, a lot. The level is good, the grounds are very good, and especially here it is fantastic because we play in front of 25-30,000 fans, 40,000 for the derby."

The 32-year-old has wasted little time settling in.

On the pitch he is flying, as evidenced by his third-placed running in the NewsCorp Player of the Year award.

Khalfallah takes on Jamie MacLaren of Perth Glory. Source: News Corp Australia

Off the pitch, ask anyone at Victory about him and they'll tell you he's a "cheeky little" ... well, you know.

He may be doing private English lessons once a week, but the language barrier — the Tunisian is naturally fluent in French — isn't getting in the way of his transition.

He says he loves the city — "I like to explore because it is fantastic" — the food — "every day I eat in different restaurants" — and his new digs — "I love the poker and I live just in front of the casino so it's dangerous".

His wife, Amanda, and six-year-old daughter, Anna, will arrive permanently on Tuesday.

But family aside it is soccer that has his heart.

"I want to play every game," Beh Khalfallah says.

"I'm not the same player when I train. Training for me, I know it's important, but I love the competition. I don't like friendly games, I don't like the training.

"If I can play until 40, 41, 42 if I will because it is my passion.

"I was born with a ball because my father was a professional too (in Tunisia and France), so soccer is my life."

Spend 15 minutes in Ben Khalfallah's presence and it's hard not to be won over by his infectious personality.

But he turns serious when asked about his form.

And, surprisingly, he is far from satisfied despite his and the team's barnstorming start to the season.

"I am feeling good, but I can do better," he says.

"I am sure because I know myself. I think I can score more.

"But my goal this year is to win the league. Everyone knows it's the 10th birthday so it's very important for the club, for (coach) Kevin (Muscat), for the club, for the staff, to win this year.

"For me, three, maybe four teams can win, but I am thinking really that we are the best team.

"I am sure we can win because everyone works, every day, really hard."

Khalfallah celebrating after scoring a goal for Victory. Source: News Corp Australia

Ben Khalfallah was born and raised in France, but played for Tunisia as his parents hail from the north-African nation.

He refused several international call-ups in the past because "for me the timing wasn't good" and will not add to his 14 caps now after moving down under.

"It's very different, you don't have international break. It's far and I promised Kevin if I come to Melbourne I stop my international career."

The biggest move of his career came in 2010 when he made the near $7 million (AUD) switch from Valenciennes FC to Bordeaux.

His three-and-a-half year stint at the French giant was "amazing", but he says "the feeling" he has from his two months at Victory so far is "the same".

"Before I come here I didn't know what I think about soccer in Australia, I know nothing.

"But from the first time when I opened the door in the locker room the music was (loud). In my head I was thinking it was like in the USA because when I watch the NFL and in movies it's the same thing.

"Every day we laugh. We eat together in restaurants. Every day we have together five or six hours so it's important to have a good atmosphere.

"Really, it's a family."

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